Gas tank holder



July 24, 1951 R. B. PUTNAM 2,561,595

GAS TANK HOLDER Filed May 4, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor ROBERT B. PUTNAM Aitor-neg.

R. E. PUTNAM GAS TANK HOLDER July 24, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 4, 1946 Inventor ROBERT B. PUTNAM I.. l l

July 24, 1951 R B, PUTNAM 2,561,595

GAS TANK HOLDER Filed May 4, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor-z 356 Roza-RT B. PUTNAM Attorney.

Patented July 24, 1951 GAS TANK HOLDER 7 Robert B; Putnam, fMinneapollsMinn., =assignor to J ay' Ai Andersen, Minneapolis, Minn.'

ApplicationMay `4, 1946, Seral No. 667,449 i 14 claims; .(cteuegrsr* This inventionrela'tes to a tank-holding device and while the' invention might "have var'- ious-"app'lications, it is illustratedf as vapplied .to a `device forholding cylindrical tanks holding compressed gas. Such gasis commonly `referred to 'as fbottled gas. Said-gasiis used for fuel in "domestic establishments and .for other pur'- poses: The tanks h'el'd have valve mechanism at their-upper ends which are connected to a regulator carried by vthe device.

It is an objectofthisiinvention to provide 4a simplefand- 'eiici'ent' structure forv receiving `and supporting said tanks" and regulating equipment,

holdingt'them'in the 'proper vpositioniert .of the i ground-and `having'a cover at its top movable such` al' device asset Aforth in'thexpreceding" para"- y.

graphg'togetherwith afront standard extending vertically from said basetand Ma member secured to and extending betweensaid front and :rear

standards and disposed betweensaidgtanksad jacentthe tops thereof.'

It is still further 'an object ofthe'invention' to provide'such a deviceas setforth in the precede ing `paragraph save one; tegether'with ai: bracket secured to saidrean standard intermediatethe C ends thereof and extending rearwardly therefromsaid bracket having means adapted" to en-, gage and be secured to a wall.A

It is more specifically an object'of the' invention to `provide a tank-holding'. device compris-'- ing a base having laterally spacedsubstantiall'y cylindrical portions for Vreceiving and supporting the lower ends 4of gasitanksa third member dis-n` posed between and secured toY said. portions and having front' and rearsides,` a: rear standard secured to the rearside of said'third memberand extending verticallyltherefrom and ybeing preferably Loi tough or channel shapeupon which pro.- vision is made for vmounting a regulator; la ,front.

standardlsecured to' the Vfrontisde. of sadlthlrd L member and extending vertically "therefrom, a

member'similar'to said third member secured to and extending between said front and rear standards adjacentthe upper ends of said tanks and disposedbetween said'tanks; a housing hinged to thetupper end 'of said rear standard and adapted to swingtoforward position over the tops of said tanksfto protect'the" same from tampering and to rearward position exposing the tops of said tanks; i These". and other objectsand advantages `of the invention 'will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with' the accompanying'drawings in which like reference characters freier lto similar 'parts throughout the severalviews and in which:

VFigjl'isa view 'in' front'elevation of the device, thetankstc beheldbeing shown in dotted'lines;

Fig'. 2 isa'tcp plan View; of the'device;'

Figi 3"i's"a horizontal section' taken on line 3-3 Fig'lisaview in side elevationY of the device; 'Fig'.*5 is a partial'vertica'lsectiontaken substantially on line '5-5 of Fig. 2, as indicated by the"`arrows;l Figo isa partial vertical'sction taken on line `6--6 of Figi?, as indicatedby the arrows;

Fig."7 is a partial vertical section taken sub'- stantially online 'IL-'l of Fig. 8; as indicated by the" arrows? A Figl8 isafpartial vertical section taken on line 8-'8 of Figi?, as indicated lby the arrows;

Fig'. 9 is a view'partly'in front elevation and partly in vertical section showing regulating equipment;

Fig`."10 is" a vertical section on line Ill-LII] of Fig". 9,sliowing` saidequipment; and4 Fig1l` is a horizontal section on line Il-II of FigLlO.

Referringto the drawings, a device is shown comprising a basel l0, said base having laterally spaced portionsfl (la,` which are secured to a third member |01' disposed therebetween. While portionsv 1I 0a could be varied in form, in the embodiment of the' invention illustrated each comprises anouter. cylindrical flange Ille having a terminal outwardly' extending supporting peripheral' ilange I'Udl' Each portion [0a 'also has an inner substantially cylindrical i flange Ille which flares upwardly and has an inwardly extending supportingA peripheral flange lUf. Flanges Ic and I Ue'kare connected' at their tops by a channelshaped portionor bead lllgand a horizontally extendinglportion 1071). `Ribs Illlc maybe pressed upwardly alongportions.u I Ilh, and 10g', as. shown l'nFigs': 3 and '6; to provide strength and act as tion and downwardly extending peripheral flanges. Portions Illa and member I2 carrbe pressed from sheet metal. A rear standard II ts about the rear side of member I2, the same thus being of channel or trough shape with ilaring sides, and the same extends vertically from I member I2 and is secured thereto by rivets 4or screws Ila. Another member I3 is disposed lsome distance above base I and adjacent the .tops of the tanks I4 supported in the device.

mental form in transverse cross section fits lagainst the front side of member I2 and'is se- ;cured thereto by rivets or screws I8. Front -standard II therefore has its front side of conjcave form and extends vertically to and fits against the front side of member I3, being secured thereto by rivets or screws I9. Standard II has a forwardly projecting top and bottom horizontal flange IIathrough the top one of which extends a hole I'Ib. Rear standard II extends above member I3 and its rear side curves lforwardly and terminates in a plane Vvertical flange Ila. Holes IIe extend through standard vII to accommodate attaching bolts for a regulator 35. A housing 20 is provided having a top portion which is curved in substantially semiycylindrical form at its front portion and 'extends rearwardly in a plane portion, said latter'portion 1having a vertically extending rear part 20a. A ,hinge 2l has one butt secured to the underside of the top of housing adjacent portion 2a and `has its other butt bent at right angles and extending along the front side of flange IIa to which it is secured by rivets or screws 22. Hinge 2I will be secured to housing 20 in any suitable manner, as by welding. Portion 20a is provided with a central recess 20o to accommodate the upper end of standard I I. Housing 2Il`has a vertically extending front side 20c and vertically extending side portions 20d, said portions 20c and 26d merging in curved form with the curved top of said housing. The lower edge portions of portions 20a and 20d are curved outwardly slightly A' from and having a short downwardly extending l terminal portion, said flange 20e being adapted to a position adjacent but spaced vertically from ange Ila and having an aperture 20j therein aligning with hole I'Ib. Aligned holes I'Ib and 20f are adapted to receive a lock'such as a 'padlock 24. It will be seen that housing 20 can'swin'g to its forward position shown in Figs. 1,'4'and 5, and also to a rearward position, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. A supporting prop or bracket 36 31, to the upper end of standard II, the same projecting upwardly and forwardly. A small clip or angle bracket 38 is secured to the inner surface of housing 25 in any suitable manner, as by welding, and when housing 20 is in its lower `position with no tanks I4 present, bracket 38 Will engage bracket 36 and support the housing 2D. When tanks I4 are in position, housing 20 is supported by its lower edge engaging the tops of said tanksjas shown in the drawings. Rear standard I I at its lower end is provided with a plurality of Figs. '7 and 8, member I2 has a top platelike por-'3; :grlouvres I Id..

Bracing members 25 and 26, which may be f 4 identical, are secured in laterally spaced relal5.

tionto the rear side of standard II at the inner side thereof, and member 25 extends upwardly and is secured to the rear side of front standard Il-substantially centrally thereof by rivets or screws 2l. Member 26 extends downwardly and. is secured to the rear side of front standard II substantially centrally thereof by rivets or screws A28. Members 25 and 26 are secured to rear standard AI I by rivets or screws 29. Braces 25 and 26 `thus provide both diagonal and torque bracing.

Abracket 30 of channel form has its central portion engaging the outer side of standard II .and secured 'thereto by rivets orscrews 3|. The sidesl of bracket 3D have terminal flanges extending outwardly therefrom which are adapted to engage and be secured to a wall 32 by bolts 33. Holes IIc are provided in standard II so that bracket 35 can be secured in various positions.

-In Figs. 9 and 10` the regulating and dispensing equipment is shown. This comprises the regulator 35 which has a top connection 35a which will be connected by a short nipple 39 to a threevway cock 49 having a handle 4I connected thereto. Regulator 35 is secured by screws 35h passing through slots IIe. Cock 40 is connected at either side by suitable connections 42 to tubes 43 which extend respectively to valves 44 which are secured by nipples 45 to the tanks I4. Values 44 are providedwith suitable handles 44a. The passage of gas from tanks I4 can be regulated by manipulating valve handles 44a. An outlet 46is connected to regulator 35.

In operation the device will be disposed in a desired llocation and if it is adjacent a wall, bracket 3D may be connected to said wall, as described. With housing 20 in its raised or rearward position, the tanks can conveniently be placed' on the base comprising portions Ia and will be centered therein and supported therein rmly in position. The connections will be made to thetanks, as described and shown in Figs. 9 and 10, and the gas will be dispensed in the usual manner by manipulation of valves 44 and cock 40.5 vThe gas passes through the regulator 35 and will be conveyed through outlet conduit 46 tothe ldesired location. It will ibe seen that opening I3a will accommodate movement of handle 4I. A plurality of the holes or slots IIe will be provided so that any type of standard regulator can be easily and quickly attached to standard II. With housing 20 in its upper or rearward position complete access can be had to the tanks and regulating equipment. When the tanks are unattended, the housing 20 can be swung down to its forward position, in which it engages and effectively encloses the upper vends is secured in any suitable manner, as by 'rivets placedytherethrough so that housing 20 will astma@ l( locked in position. The valves at the tops of the tanks and the "dispensing and Aregulatizig"equip"- nie'ritare now completely coveredand protected and access cannot be "had thereto so that` any tampering with the tanks, valves or regulating equipment is"prevented- It will be noted that hinge`2l' is disposed at the inner side of housing @and standard ll where it is always covered and protected from the weather and where it cannot betampered with when the housing 2l)` is locked" inits forward or lower position. The" louvresllld will provide some circulation in the rearlofl tanks |,4` and the front of standard l I.` `From the above description it will beseen that( l haveY provided a comparatively simple andyet eicient Lgas tank'holder. The same is veryeiiiciently'constructed` for carrying and protecting thedispensing and regulating mechanism for the" gas; Whenthe housing is in itsforward or lower` position arid'locked in placeythe upper endsof the'tahksQtogether with the regulating valves, the dispensing" and regulating `equipment are compljetelyiprotected against `tampering by any` unauthorized person. All parts of the device can be pressed from sheet metal and the structure' is very strong and rugged for the use to which Vit will be put. It "will be noted that front column 'IT is symmetrical about central vertical and'horizontal axesand can thus be reversed end for v` end in assembly. The device can be easilyand readily fabricated and can thus bel produced at a reasonable price. The device 'has beenamply demonstrated in actual practice, found tdbe verysuccessful and efficient andis being commercially made.

It will` ofcourse be understood that various changesmay be madein the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departingfromthe scope of applicants inventin,` which generally stated, consists in a device capable ofV carrying out the objects `ab0ve`set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts dis` closed and defined in the appended claims.`

`What is claimed is:

1."`A device of the class described having in combination, 'a base member having portions with recesses adapted to receive the lower' ends respectively of cylindrical tanks, said base having'a' second member connecting said portions, a`

standard ei'rtending vertically from the rear por-l tion' of said' second member and adapted to` beA disposed in the Y u u n v standard extending upwardly from the front portion fof said second member, a member secured to said standards adjacent the tops thereof and adapted to be disposed between said tanks, and a housinghinged to said first mentioned standard adjacent the top thereof arranged to swing rearwardly to expose said tanks and adapted to"`move"to forward position disposed over thev tops of said tanksythe same havinga portion'adjacent the top of said second standard when disposed in said forward position.

235A `device of the class described having in combination, a supportingbase member having laterallyfspaced portions with recesses `adapted toireceive the lower ends of" cylindrical tanks-*a second member extending between and connecting said portion, a standard extending vertically from the rear side of said second member, a second standard extending vertically from the front of said second member, a third member extending between said standards adjacent the tops thereof and adapted to be disposed between said tanks, a housing hinged to said rst mentioned rear ofsaidtanks, a second ,.t, whim desde@ @sii moved 'to "position: toextend -`over the tops of s`lv` Hanks and having a portion adjacent the top of s`aid's'econd standard when `so moved,` and means for'locking said housingto the top of said second standardfwhen in said position.

LA3` The" structure 'setforth inclaim 2, and a bracket adapted to` be secured to said first mentionedsta'idard at'various points thereon, extendingrear `ardly therefrom and adapted to be ted to awaii. u d `v1c`e"of"the class described having in coy binatiofnfa supporting'base memloer` having lat ally spaced portions adapted to support re- 'ctivdthe lower ends of spaced cylindrical ta .s, a second member connecting saidportiouisfa standard secured to the rear 'of said se'cond,"rnember substantially centrally thereof `rextendinAg vertically therefrom, a front st'a dard'secured tothe front portion of` said second member substantially,centrally thereofl and extending vertically therefrom, a member `connecting said standards adjacent the upper ends the "ofland adapted to be disposed between said tanks, and ,da housing hinged at its rear side to saidiirst mentioned standard and adapted to bei movedto position over the tops of said tanks, and IInneans at the front of said housing for locking the Same in position- 5,.V if device of the class described having in combination, a supporting base member having laterally spaced portions adapted to support respectively the lower ends of cylindrical tanks, av

second member having concave sides connecting said, portions `adapted toaccommodate said spaced portions, a standard secured to the rear of` said second member substantially centrally thereof` and jextendhg vertically therefrom, a front standard secured to the front portion of said sec- Y ondjmember substantially centrally thereof and extending `vertically therefrom, a member connecting said standards adjacent the 'upper ends` thBTof andadapted to be disposed between said tanks andhaving concave sides adapted lto accomodate said tanks, and a housing hinged at its rear side to said first mentioned standard and adaptedto be moved to position over the tops of saidgtanks, said first mentioned standard having considerable width, a member secured to said iirstgmentioned standard substantially midway ofi itsj height` and extending downwardly to said front standardyandanother member secured to said first; mentioned standard substantially midway offits height` and extending upwardly to` said front standard.

`GpA f device of the class described having in combination, a base having laterally spacedportions adapted to receive, surround and support respectively the lower ends of spaced cylindrical tanks, a member disposed between said portions, extendingl partly around and secured to said portionsand Vhaving front and rear sides, a. rear standard ,securedto said rear side and extending verticallytherefroin, a front standard secured to saidfront side 'and extending vertically therefrom, a second member disposed adjacent the tops 01E-,said tanks shaped similarly to said first mentioned member and secured to said standards, said rear standard extending above said last mentioned member, a housing hinged to said rear standard and adapted to swing to forward position over the tops of said tanks and having a front portion disposed closely adjacent said second member with said housing in said forward position.

gehisst 1 7. 'lhe structure set forth in claim 6, said front side being concavely curved and said front standard being of segmental form in transverse across section and having aconcave front side.`

8. The structure set forth in claim 6, said rear side being of substantially trapezoidal form and said rear standard being of trapezoidal trough shape in cross section and fitting about said rear side.

9. A device of the class described having in combination, a supporting base having laterally spaced portions each having an outer cylindrical supporting flange and an inner substantially cylindrical flange having portions flaring upwardly at its inner edge, said inner flanges being adapted to receive and support the lower ends of spaced cylindrical tanks, a member disposed between said'first mentioned portions and having curved sides extending about said outer flanges respectively and secured thereto, said member having a rear side extending substantially parallel to a line connecting the centers of said rst mentioned portions and having sides converging towards said rear side, a rear standard of channel form tting about said sides of said member and extending vertically therefrom, a second member secured to said rear standard adjacent the tops of said tanks and adapted to be disposed between said tanks, a housing hinged to the upper end of said rear standard and adapted to swing to forward position over the tops of said tanks and to swing to rearward position exposing the tops of said tanks.

- 10. The structure set forth in claim 9, said first mentioned member having a front side disposed between said outer flanges, a front standard secured to said front side and extending vertically therefrom, means connecting said front standard and said first mentioned member, said front standard having a portion disposed adjacent the front part of said housing and adapted to be locked thereto.

11. A device of the class described having in combination, a base member having laterally spaced portions adapted to support respectively the lower ends of spaced cylindrical tanks, a second member fitting partially about and connect ing said portions, a standard secured to thelrear second member and extending vertically there-I from, a third member connecting said standards adjacent the tops thereof and adapted to be disposed between said tanks, and a housing hinged to the upper end f said rear standard, said housing having depending walls the lower edge portions of which are constructed and arranged to t about the convexly rounded upper surfaces of said tanks.

12. A device of the class described havingin combination, a base member having laterally spaced portions adapted to supportV respectively the lower ends of spaced cylindrical tanks, a second member connecting said portions, a standard secured to the rear of said second member substantially centrally thereof and extending vertically therefrom, a housing adjacent the upper end of said standard, a hinge secured to Said standard and housing, whereby said housing can swing to forward position over the tops of said tanks and to rearward position exposing said tanks and means for locking said housing in said forward position, said hinge being disposed at the inner side of said housing and covered thereby so that it is not accessible from the outside of said housing and thus cannot be tampered with when said housing is lockedin forward position.

13. A device of theV closs described having in combination, a base adapted to rest on a supportsurface and having spaced portions with substantially cylindrical flanges adapted to receive and support the lower ends` of spaced gas-containing tanks, a member fitting about and connecting said portions, front and rear standards extending vertically from and secured to the front and rear sides of said member respectively, a second member similar to said first mentioned member secured to said standards adjacent the tops thereof and adapted to be disposed between said tanks and a housing hinged to the upper end of said rear standard above said tanks and adapted to be swung to forward position over the tops of said tanks or to rearward position exposing the tops of said tanks, said rear standard being of channel form in horizontal cross-section with its open side directed forwardly and having means adjacent its upper'end for receiving attaching means for supporting a gas regulator at its inner side, said second member having an opening therethrough for the passage of connections between said regulator and tanks.

14. A device of the class describedl having in combination, a base having spaced portions having substantially cylindrical flanges and adapted respectively to receive and support the lower ends of gas-containing tanks, a member fitting about and connecting saidV portions, front and rear standard extending vertically from and secured to said member, a housing hinged vto the upper end of said rear standard and adapted to swing to forward position over the tops of said tanks or to rearward position exposing the tops of said tanks, a supporting member secured adjacent the top and at the inner side of said rear standard and projecting upwardly, and a clip secured to the inner side of said housing adapted to engage said sup-porting member when said housing is in forward position with vno tanks in said device.

ROBERT B. PUTNAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the i'lle of this :patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

